WEBVTT IN SANTA CRUZ WITH TONIGHT'S TOPSTORY.PHIL TODAY CALTRANS BEGAN WEEK: LONG EMERGENCY REPAIR ALONGTHE SOUTHBOUND LANE OF HIGHWAY17.THE WORK INCLUDES GRINDING ANDREPAVING THE NUMBER TWO LANE OFTHE HIGHWAY.FOR COMMUTERS IT MEANS YOU CANEXPECT DELAYS.>> I HAVE BEEN ON IT FOR A FEWMILES, IT IS VERY SLOW.PHIL HIGHWAY 17, SOUTHBOUND DOWN: TO ONE LANE AS CAL TRANSCONSTRUCTION CREWS INCH ALONGREPAIRING THE HIGHWAY DRENCHEDFROM ALL THE RAIN SUSTAINED THISWINTERHEAVY RAIN CAUSED MUDSLIDES ANDSLIP-OUTS ALONG HIGHWAY 17-BUTNOW THE TIME IS RIGHT FOREMERGENCY WORK TO REPAIR POTHOLES AND OTHER ISSUES THATPOPPED UP.>> THERE IS HIGH TRAFFIC, ONEWAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT.PHIL DURING FEBRUARY BUSINESS: WAS EXTREMELY SLOW AT THESUMMIT HOUSE OFF HIGHWAY 17IT'S PICKING UP BECAUSE OFANDIT'S PICKING UP BECAUSE OFTOURIST TRAFFIC AND WEARYDRIVERS LOOKING TO RECHARGE.>> IT IS GOOD NEWS, WE GET A LOTOF TRAFFIC COMING IN, PEOPLESTOPPING OFF THE HIGHWAY.USING THE RESTROOM, EATING ABITE TO EAT OR SOMETHING TODRINK.STRETCHING THEIR LEGS.PHIL: CONSTRUCTION STARTED ATTHE SUMMIT AND IS WORKING IT'SWAY DOWN TO VINE HILL ROAD.THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL ISASKING DRIVERS TO REMAIN PATIENTWHILE WORK IS GOING ON.>> IF WE START HAVING ACCIDENTS,PEOPLE ARE DISTRACTED ANDFRUSTRATED AND IMPATIENT, DOINGTHINGS THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TOBE DOING.PHIL TOMORROW CAL TRANS WILL: PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFFTODAY AND IT'LL RUNTHROUGH-- IT WILL RUN THROUGH THURSDAY.CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED TOBEGIN AT 7:30 A.M. AND CONTINUEUNTIL 2:00 P.M. THE WORK WILL SHIFT FROM SIMSFRIDAY, ROAD TO PASA TIEMPO ROADSTARTING AT 9:30 A.M. AND GOUNTIL 2:00 PM.DAN: THANK YOU.WORK ON THE ROAD IS BEING DONEDURING THE DAY BECAUSE THEWARMER TEMPERATURES ALLOW FORTHE ASPHALT TO HARDEN AND CALTRANS HOPES TO MITIGATE THEINCONVENIENCE BY CLOSING DOWNBEFORE THE EVENING COMMUTE GETSTOO BUSY.FINGERS CROSSED ON THAT.EXPECT DELAYS IF YOU ARE TRYINGTO GET TO BIG SUR ALONGNACIMIENTO-FERGUSON ROADTHURSDAY.CALTRANS WILL BE MOVINGEQUIPMENT TO BIG SUR FOR THEPFEIFFER CANYON BRIDGE PROJECT.THE ROAD WILL BE CLOSEINTERMITTENTLY TO LET CALTRANSTHROUGH.THE FIRST CONVOY BEGINS AT EIGHTTHEY WILL TAKE UP THE WHOLETHING.

Highway 17 construction work in Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley is causing long delays for drivers trying to get over the hill.Drivers said they were trapped in delays Monday that lasted for more than an hour. And the delays are slated to continue through Friday.CalTrans construction schedule:Monday, June 12 through Thursday, June 15 near Scotts Valley:-- The southbound right lane of Hwy. 17 from Summit Rd. to Vinehill Rd. will be closed from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.Friday, June 16 in Santa Cruz:-- The southbound right lane of Hwy. 17 from Sims Rd. to Pasatiempo Dr. will be closed from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.CalTrans crews are making emergency repairs while grinding and repaving lanes. Construction started at the summit, and crews are working their way down to Vine Hill Road.Last winter's heavy rain caused countless mudslides and slipouts along Highway 17. June's calm weather is allowing crews to complete emergency work to prevent pot holes and other issues from popping up."We don't like to close much of Highway 17 because it is a high-traffic area. But the work does need to go on," CalTrans spokeswoman Susana Cruz said.Drivers said southbound lanes were moving so slowly Monday that they looked more like a "parking lot" than a highway. The California Highway Patrol is asking drivers to exercise patience."We start having accidents in construction zones because people are distracted, they're frustrated, they're impatient, they're looking at their phones," CHP officer Sam Courtney said.A route normally used as an alternate by Highway 17 drivers, Old Soquel San Jose Road, has been closed for months, and remains closed. A huge section of the road was washed away by winter storms.

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. —

Highway 17 construction work in Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley is causing long delays for drivers trying to get over the hill.

Drivers said they were trapped in delays Monday that lasted for more than an hour. And the delays are slated to continue through Friday.

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CalTrans construction schedule:

Monday, June 12 through Thursday, June 15 near Scotts Valley:

-- The southbound right lane of Hwy. 17 from Summit Rd. to Vinehill Rd. will be closed from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Friday, June 16 in Santa Cruz:

-- The southbound right lane of Hwy. 17 from Sims Rd. to Pasatiempo Dr. will be closed from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

CalTrans crews are making emergency repairs while grinding and repaving lanes. Construction started at the summit, and crews are working their way down to Vine Hill Road.

Last winter's heavy rain caused countless mudslides and slipouts along Highway 17. June's calm weather is allowing crews to complete emergency work to prevent pot holes and other issues from popping up.

"We don't like to close much of Highway 17 because it is a high-traffic area. But the work does need to go on," CalTrans spokeswoman Susana Cruz said.

Drivers said southbound lanes were moving so slowly Monday that they looked more like a "parking lot" than a highway.